Helichrysum plant named &#39;Lemon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A plant variety of the Helichrysum family resulting from a controlled crossing of the patented variety  Helihrysum bracteatum bracteatum×splendidum  ‘Harvest Sun II’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,800) and the unpatented  Helichrysum  ‘White’. The new variety named ‘Lemon’ has blooms of RHS 5 B (yellow group). The new variety has an erect but compact growth habit, and can be easily forced in pots.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Lemon’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of the Compositae family. The new variety is named Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Lemon’ by the assignee, Bay City Flower Company, Inc. The inventor is Rudolfo Valdoz Bautista of Half Moon Bay, Calif., a citizen of the United States.

This new Helichrysum variety originated as a seedling. It was selected from the progeny of a controlled hybridization conducted by the inventor in a commercial nursery in the city of Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay is located in San Mateo County, in the state of California.

The inventor crossed Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Harvest Sun II’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,800) and the unpatented Helichrysum variety ‘White’ to produce the new variety. The new variety was selected for commercial development because of its unique flower head color and compact growth habit. The new variety is particularly suitable for commercial plant culture because of its long-lasting flowers and attractive coloring.

Other desirable characteristics of the new variety are:

-   -   the color of its flower head and bud,     -   its dense foliage and strong stems,     -   its compact growth habit, and     -   its ability to grow well in pots in which it can be sold.

The infloresence is made up of a number of involucral bracts, surrounding a disk head. The outermost involucral bracts of the bud are RHS 160 D (greyed-yellow group) at their tips. The rest of the bracts are RHS 5 B (yellow group). Coloring of bracts on the upperside of the flower head gives the flower head a uniform appearance of RHS 5B (yellow group) at maturity.

The following table compares the new variety to the closest varieties known to the inventor, according to the new variety's distinguishing characteristics. The variety designated ‘1A93’ is a progeny of a cross between Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. and Helichrysum bracteatum (Venten.) Andr. The variety designated ‘Harvest Sun’ is the progeny of a cross between the variety designated ‘1A93’ and Helichrysum bracteatum (Vent.). Andr. H. bracteatum (general characteristics) H. splendidum ‘1A93’ ‘Harvest Sun’ New Variety Bract color Various colors Involucral R.H.S. 4A Involucral R.H.S 5 B bracts at opening bracts at are predominantly opening are R.H.S. 12A. predominantly Upper involucral R.H.S. 22A. bracts Upper involucral when flower bracts head is mature when flower are predominantly head is mature R.H.S. are predominantly 12A. R.H.S. 9A. Bud color Various colors Predominantly R.H.S. 187B R.H.S. 26A R.H.S. 160 D R.H.S. 175A. (greyed-yellow group) Leaf puberulent tomentose puberulent puberulent and puberulent Surfaces and sparsely sparsely villous, villous, main main veins are veins are hirsute hirsute Suitability Good Average Good Good Good for pot culture Ease of Generally good Difficult Good Good Good forcing Growth Generally Spreading Compact Compact Compact habit compact

The distinguishing characteristics are retained by asexually reproduced, successive generations. The inventor, at a commercial nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif., has asexually reproduced the new variety through three successive generations by means of cuttings and has found that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical potted-plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and bract color development from the bud stage to the mature flower head. The colors are represented as truly as possible using conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a potted plant of the new variety described herein, illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a potted plant of the new variety described herein, illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a potted plant of the new variety described herein, illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a potted plant of the new variety described herein, Illustrating the overall form and appearance of the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 5 is a view of one stem removed from the plant.

FIG. 6 is a view of one stem removed from the plant.

FIG. 7 is a top view of two individual flower heads of the new variety described herein, showing the pigmentation pattern of the bracts. The flower head on the left is quite young.

FIG. 8 is a top view of two individual flower heads of the new variety described herein, showing the pigmentation pattern of the bracts. The flower head on the right is quite old.

FIG. 9 is a view of the undersides of two individual flower heads of the new variety described herein, showing the pigmentation pattern of the bracts. The flower head on the left is quite young.

FIG. 10 is a view of the undersides of two individual flower heads of the new variety described herein, showing the pigmentation pattern of the bracts. The flower head on the right is quite old.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety. The new variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color designation and other values stated may deviate slightly from the stated values from flowering to flowering, but the deviations will be within the range expected from varying environmental, seasonal and cultural conditions. Color designations were made according to the R.H.S. Color Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The following description is based on observations of optimally fertilized plants grown outside in 6 inch pots.

The observed plants were 20 weeks old.

The plants were grown under glass in Half Moon Bay, Calif., during the winter and spring months. The day time temperature in the green house where the plants were grown was kept between 65 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The humidity was maintained at 90%.

The plant:

-   -   -   Name.—Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Lemon’.         -   Origin.—Seedling.         -   Parentage.—Helichrysum bracteatum×splendidum ‘Harvest Sun             II’ and unpatented Helichrsyum variety ‘White’.         -   Classification.—Family — Compositae. Tribe — Inula. Genus —             Helichrysum. Species — bracteatum×splendidum. Commercial —             Strawflower.         -   Form.—Upright, compact, biennial herb.         -   Height.—Plant grown in 6″ pot is 28 cm.         -   Diameter.—Plant grown in 6″ pot is 30 cm.         -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth under glass with excellent             branching; easily forced to bloom without growth regulators.         -   Stems.—Texture — Generally, stems are moderately pubescent             at their base; stems are very sericeous below the flower,             making for a glaucous appearance. Shape — Stems have a             rectangular cross section below the base of the flower             becoming round at base. Size — Stem width at top of plant             below the terminal flower head is 5 mm. The stem widens in             one direction to accommodate axilary stems, becoming             approximately 10 mm wide. Where stems meet the original             cutting, the stems are approximately 8 mm to 11 mm wide. The             diameter of the original cutting is 1 5 mm.         -   Foliage.—Quantity — Abundant. Shape — Linear; narrowly             acute; margins are repand. Size — As large as 16 cm long by             37 mm wide. Texture — Viscid; main vein dominates on the             underside of leaf and is sunken on the leaf surface.             Pubescence — Leaf surfaces are puberulent. Color — Upper             leaf surface is RHS 137A to 137 B (green group); lower leaf             surface is RHS 137C (green group).         -   Disease resistance.—Roots appear to be disease resistant.

-   Buds:     -   -   Form.—Conical, with imbricate involucral bracts.         -   Texture.—Smooth and glossy (waxy).         -   Rate of opening.—Slowly, and in layers, closing at night;             fully open in 2-3 weeks.         -   Involucral bracts.—Color — Outermost involucral bracts are             RHS 160 D (greyed-yellow group). As bud opens, a first group             of inner bracts become visible. This group of bracts are             colored RHS 5 B (yellow group).         -   Aspect.—Thin, dry, membranous.

-   The inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Flower head is discoid and solitary; usually 1 or 2             buds at the next leaf axis below.         -   Flower head size.—Diameter — 58 mm. Disc floret portion             diameter — 24-25 mm.         -   Shape of the flower head.—Circular; involucral bracts are             numerous and imbricate.         -   Appearance of the flower head.—Showy.         -   Involucral bracts.—Form — Involucral bracts are imbricate in             many rows. Involucral bracts are scarious and membranous,             but are brightly colored. The involucral bracts are deltoid,             enlarged and petal-like. Color — The bracts on the upperside             of the flower head are RHS 5B (yellow group). Coloring of             bracts on the upperside of the flower gives the flower a             uniform appearance of RHS 5B (yellow group) at maturity.         -   Disc florets.—Form — Florets are all small, bisexual and             tubular. The corolla of the florets is usually 5-lobed.             Corolla is usually 7-9 mm long and glaucous (waxy). The             upper 3.5 mm of the corolla is usually brightly colored, RHS             24 A (orange group). Androecium — There are usually 5             stamens borne on the corolla tube. The stamens, including             the anthers, are usually united into a tube around the style             and become highly reflexed from the point of separation. The             stamens protrude from the corolla. Pollen occurs on the             adaxial surface of the anthers. Gynoecium — One pistil per             disc floret. The ovary is inferior, and approximately 2 mm             tall. The style is often branched. The style protrudes from             the corolla about 2 to 3 mm. There is a pappus with many             bristles. The bristles are approximately 8 mm long. Color of             the bristles is RHS 10 D (yellow group).         -   Persistence.—9 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—none.         -   Achenes.—The achenes rarely germinate. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Helichrysum plant, as illustrated and described. 